These 5 minute chicken and rice bowls use instant rice and rotisserie chicken, plus black beans, zucchini and some favorite toppings, to create a super fast, easy and really delicious meal!
Our schedule recently has been bonkers with the kids activities. I know I'm far from alone in that and I know I'm not the only one who wonders how the heck I'm supposed to make dinner when I'm driving all over town and cheering from the sidelines. 🧐
And listen, there's nothing wrong with picking up dinner or ordering a pizza. Y'all know, too, that I love me a dinner made of store-bought foods as a back-up.
But on nights when I do want to kinda cook and eat at home, despite all the scheduling challenges of the day, something that takes me 5 minutes feels like a gift.
So today is the first of several 5 minute meals I've been working on this year.
These 5 minute chicken and rice bowls are crazy fast and easy to make and are astonishingly tasty.
We LOVE these bowls! And I love that they can be customized and tweaked depending on our vibes and whether I actually have 7-8 minutes. 🤪
OK, you don't have any time to waste. Let's get cooking.
Ingredient Notes:
Chicken: The chicken needs to be already cooked and ready to use for this recipe. You can use a rotisserie chicken or leftover grilled or baked chicken. It helps if it's already chopped or shredded to keep this to 5 minutes.
Rice: We're using the microwave kind of rice that takes about 90 seconds to keep this really fast to come together. (Some "instant" rice actually takes 5 minutes so check your label before you buy.) Feel free to substitute leftover rice if you have some on hand that can be reheated.
Beans: We love black beans and they go really well here, but you could also substitute pinto beans if you prefer.
Zucchini: This should be cut pretty small so it can get a little bit softened in just a short amount of time. Feel free to let it go for a little longer if you want it more tender and you have the time. You could also swap in some spinach to wilt down if you prefer.
Other add-ins: You could also sauté some onion and garlic with the zucchini if you'd like. Or stir in some diced green chilies for extra oomph.
As for the timing, yes, I generally move pretty fast in the kitchen and this recipe requires constant motion. It could take a little longer if you're dragging at the end of the day, if your chicken needs to be pulled off the bone and chopped, etc. Otherwise though, it's written so you can get started and finished within 5 minutes.
These are ingredients I'll be keeping on hand all fall (ahem, soccer season) and probably just all the time. Cause you just never know when it's going to turn into one of those days…
Now, you can still pull together a delicious, healthy meal and sit down to eat. Hopefully this helps.
(Also, you can definitely use this for a yummy last-minute lunch!)
And stay tuned cause I've got more 5-minute recipes coming your way. You can sign up for my free email newsletter so you never miss a thing.
Happy (hardly) cooking and enjoy!
XO,
Kathryn
5 Minute Chicken & Rice Bowls
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 medium zucchini
- 2 (8 oz) packages ready rice (white or brown)
- 2 cups chopped rotisserie chicken
- 1 (15 oz) can black beans
- 1 tablespoon southwest seasoning
- Toppings (optional): shredded cheese, salsa, Greek yogurt or sour cream, avocado or guacamole, cilantro lime dressing, etc.
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium high heat and add oil.
- While the pan is heating, chop the zucchini. Halve the zucchini lengthwise and halve again so you have four long strips. Cut those in roughly ¼-inch pieces. We want them small so it cooks quickly. Add the zucchini to the pan and saute in the oil for 2-3 minutes.
- Cook the rice in the microwave according to the package instructions.
- Rinse and drain the can of black beans. Add the rotisserie chicken and beans to the pan. Add the southwest seasoning and stir to combine and heat through.
- Once the rice is finished, divide among 4 bowls. Top each bowl with the chicken and black bean mixture. Add your favorite toppings and enjoy!
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